Westport’s zoning regulations specify instances in which the HDC has advisory responsibility to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z). Sometimes, when specified, the advisory responsibility is exercised through a Joint Committee made up of members of the HDC and the Architectural Review Board (ARB). The individual zoning regulations also specify under what circumstances review and recommendation by the HDC or Joint Committee is needed, and what standards the relevant advisory body will apply. As of 2022, there are three zoning districts in downtown Westport that often require the advisory input of the HDC or the Joint Committee: Village District Overlay Zone/Westport Center (§36); Business Center District/Historic (§29A); and Historic Design District (§30).

VILLAGE DISTRICT OVERLAY ZONE/WESTPORT CENTER (§36)

In 2017 Westport’s Planning and Zoning Commission established a Village District Overlay (VDO) Zone and designated Westport Center as a “Village District” in §36 of its zoning regulations. An overlay zone applies an additional layer of standards to the area within the defined overlay boundary, and unless otherwise specified, the standards of the underlying zone also remain in effect. A map of the Westport Center Village District can be found here, and a list of included properties can be found here. The Village District Overlay Zone was adopted under the authority of Connecticut General Statutes §8-2j.

The purpose of the Village District Overlay Zone/Westport Center is “to protect the distinctive character, landscape, and historic structures and development pattern within this Village District while encouraging a mixed use, walkable district that is attractive to residents, employees, and visitors.” To that end, §36-2 sets forth Design Principles and Design Standards that apply to certain new construction, substantial reconstruction and rehabilitation, and alterations to existing building facades of properties within the Village District (§36-1.3).

The Joint Committee (HDC and ARB), which shall include “at least one member who is an architect, landscape architect, or planner who is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners,” has been designated in §36-1.5 as the Village District Consultant and has been charged with reviewing “all applications for new construction and substantial reconstruction within the district and in view from public streets, public spaces, walkways, bikeways and the Saugatuck River.” §36-3.1 sets forth the Design Review Process which provides that: “The Joint Committee shall submit a report and recommendation to the Planning and Zoning Commission within thirty-five days of the receipt of the application. The basis for the recommendation of the Joint Committee shall be the compliance of the application with provisions of §36-2.3 Design Standards.” §36-3.1 also states that: “Projects shall be approved if they meet the Design Standards and all other applicable guidelines and requirements.”

The regulations also provide, however, for a Compliance Alternative in §36-2.2. Under §36-2.2, if there is mutual consent between the Joint Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Applicant, a proposed design may be accepted if it complies with the compatibility objectives of the Design Principles even if it does not meet the requirements of the Design Standards. An application for review by the Joint Committee for a project in the Village District Overlay Zone/Westport Center can be found here.

Note that as part of the Design Review Process, §36-3.2 calls for “Additional Materials for an Application Related to Existing Historic Buildings”:

“The Applicant must supply documentation of the original style of the building and a narrative of how improvements are consistent with the style or how the improvements vary, and a rationale for why the variation should be approved under §36-2.2 Compliance Alternative. Historic buildings are defined as those listed in the Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) List contained in the Westport Center Planning District Historic Resources Inventory Update and Planning Recommendations, the Public Archaeological Laboratory, Inc., May 9, 2012.”

And §36-3.3 calls for “Additional Materials for an Application for New Construction or Substantial Reconstruction and Rehabilitation or Changes to the Exterior Facades”:

“The Applicant must supply pictures of the original building(s) (if applicable), the buildings to either side of the proposed project and the view from across the street. The narrative should indicate how the proposed building or addition is consistent with the context and describe the treatments of façades facing public streets or public parking areas. Any request for a variation should include a statement as to why the variation should be approved under §36-2.2 Compliance Alternative.”

Although the Joint Committee has been designated as the Village District Consultant, §36-1.5 allows the Planning and Zoning Commission to also seek recommendations from any town agency, regional council, or outside specialist. The ultimate decision on an application rests with the Planning and Zoning Commission, which must record its reasons for approving or denying an application. Approvals must be certified by the P&Z and recorded in the land records of the town.

BUSINESS CENTER DISTRICT/HISTORIC (BCD/H §29A)

As of 2022, there are two areas in Westport Center which are located in a §29A Business Center District/Historic (BCD/H) zone. Note that these two areas are also within the Village District Overlay Zone/Westport Center §36. Thus, the procedures for review and recommendation by the Joint Committee applying the §36-2 Design Principles and Standards are the same as described in the VDO section above. See the maps and list of properties in the VDO section above (where the properties within the BCD/H zone are notated in a column on the right.) 

The Business Center District/Historic (BCD/H) zone seeks to encourage the preservation of buildings on the Historic Resources Inventory in historic commercial areas by offering more flexible zoning regulations than available to properties in ordinary Business Center District (BCD) zones. Among other things, the BCD/H also allows for the relocation of Historic Structures, as defined in the §5 Definitions of the zoning regulations.

HISTORIC DESIGN DISTRICT (HDD§30)

As of 2022, the area including National Hall at 2 Post Road West, and a few adjacent buildings on Wilton Road and Post Road West are the only properties in Westport that fall within a Historic Design District zone (HDD). See map.

Among the purposes of the Historic Design District zone are to prevent the potential loss of significant exterior historic factors and public buildings, and to preserve the visual character and appearance of historic buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places (§30-1(a),(b)). To that end, §30-9 provides that:

“The architectural design, scale and mass of buildings and other structures, including, among other elements, the exterior building material, color, roof line, and building elevations shall be of such character as to harmonize and be compatible with the historic buildings in the HDD District so as to preserve and improve the appearance and beauty of the community. New construction or reconstruction shall adhere to the design purposes of this district, in whole or in part.”

More particularly, with respect to building facades and HDC advisory responsibility, §30-9.1 states that:

“Building facades along public streets and riverfronts shall be restored and preserved, and façade easements may be granted to the Town. Proposed new exterior building additions and alterations and roof top mechanical units shall be submitted to the Historic District Commission for review and recommendation. Architectural Review Board review and recommendation is not required.”

In addition, §30-9.2 calls for a uniform design scheme throughout the HDD zone for streetscape amenities such as pavers, lighting, and signage which shall be submitted to the HDC for review and recommendation.